Bucks 91, Heat 82: Milwaukee turned this into an ugly, grind-it-out game that favored their style and not the high-flying Heat. So, exactly what Scott Skiles wants them to do. Teams do take on the personality of their coach.

No Dwyane Wade so the Heat went heavy with Chris Bosh again, but he had 8 turnovers on the night, which was part of Miami’s problems. Another problem that Luc Richard Mbah a Moute did a good job making LeBron James work for his 28 points (which is about all you can ask).

Miami tried to go small (LeBron at the four) but they looked like a team on the second night of a back-to-back that was just a bit sluggish. It made the game a slower, dogfight of an affair, which plays to the Bucks strengths. Brandon Jennings had 23 points, but it took him 20 shots to get there.

Celtics 100, Wizards 94: Boston had no Rajon Rondo, out with a sore wrist. They were without Ray Allen most of the day after he tweaked his ankle in the second quarter. Still, this is the Wizards, you expect Boston to win this more handily. Without Rondo Boston really struggles to create good looks for each other. The Wizards just struggle to create good looks for themselves — there is no team play. Combine that with some defensive lapses by Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee down the stretch (falling asleep on help responsibilities) and the Celtics get the win. Paul Pierce had 35 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds.

Clippers 103, Raptors 91: After the Clippers let a team hang around and it cost them against Minnesota on Friday, there was none of that Sunday. Los Angeles took control with a 13-0 run in the first quarter then started the second half on an 11-1 run just to salt it away. D’Andre Jordan had 10 points and 9 rebounds in the first quarter alone. Mo Williams had 26 for the Clips, 19 in the fourth quarter. Toronto shot just 35.8 percent as a team.

Nets 97, Bobcats 87: We watch these games so you don’t have to — two struggling teams, but by rule someone had to win. Charlotte came out turning the ball over 7 times in the first quarter and Deron Williams had 11 points in the first quarter , the Nets took the lead and never looked back. Williams finished the game with 19 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, while MarShon Brooks scored 20.

I don’t remember playing tonight. I didn’t play. Guys get a lot of money to be ready to play. No Knute Rockne speeches. It’s your job. If you’re a plumber and you don’t do your job, you don’t get any work. I don’t think a plumber needs a pep talk. If a doctor botches operations, he’s not a doctor anymore. If you’re a basketball player, you come ready. It’s called maturity. It’s your job.

Like it or not, motivation is part of an NBA coach’s job.

But that’s also precisely what Popovich is doing.

His credentials dwarf any other coach’s. He can play to his own ego and absolve himself of responsibility – and players will seek to please him. His years of success have earned him the ability to motivate this way, a method no other coach could use without alienating his team.

So, why not hold Motiejunas to what became a four-year, $31 million offer sheet once matched? Houston got something in return – a later trigger date on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ 2017-18 salary. Originally, that decision had to be made March 1 – which would’ve meant dropping Motiejunas from the team this season to prevent his salary from counting next season. Now, the Rockets can make that call in July, after this season is complete.

The following two Julys, Houston will also have a choice on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ upcoming salary or dropping him.

Essentially, Motiejunas is signing the most lucrative Hinkie Special in NBA history. If he plays well and stays healthy, the Rockets have Motiejunas at an affordable rate. If he struggles or his back injuries flare up, they can drop him with little to no penalty.

After they backed themselves into this corner, Motiejunas and his agent, B.J. Armstrong, didn’t do so bad. Considering the similarity between this contract and the Nets’ original offer sheet, it seems Houston helped Armstrong save face after a bungled free agency (which is easier to accept when you’re adding a talented reserve to a formidable team).

But for how little is guaranteed and how much control the Rockets hold over the next four years, wouldn’t Motiejunas have been better off accepting the $4,433,683 qualifying offer?

This means Motiejunas can’t sign with the Nets, who signed him to the original offer sheet, for one year.

I bet it also means Motiejunas and Houston have agreed to a new contract. Otherwise, why release him from the offer sheet? The Rockets would be giving up a tremendous amount of leverage out of the goodness of their hearts – unless this is just a prelude to a new deal with Houston.